Bishop8000,
Thank you for all the work!
I don't have the flickering but have skin tones that are red/blue showing like a watermark...blotchy.
This can also happen on sky backgrounds.
Oranges are often pink.
Sound like the symptoms are the same as the ones solved by your cleaning plan?
Thanks for your help.

I bought my TV 5 years ago....and completely love it, when it works. I bought the extended warranty (3 yrs), and glad I did. Year three I had the light engine kit replaced under warranty.....and replaced a bulb a year after. Had the flickering problem yet again and contacted the factory......after paying for a tech to look and confirm the problem (tv works fine for an hour or more than flickers)...I have to admit the customer service took care of me and for a real minimal cost upgraded me to the 73738 new model (3D). I did buy the extended warranty again, hope this one lasts longer. There has been enhancements to their line and manufacturing to resolve this issue. If you have the original receipt and especially have had work on it before....contact them. This is a known problem.

You posted that you had made a DIY guide to fix "needs a new light engine. The picture pulses almost like a strobe light effect just not as severe. All the colors are fine everything works. " I am having that problem with our 5 yr old Philips 50PL9126D. It pulses in the white/light areas after the set has been running for about an hour. I tried the link you posted but it appeared to take me to a site that I had to pay for. Is there a way to get this guide from you?

You posted that you had made a DIY guide to fix "needs a new light engine. The picture pulses almost like a strobe light effect just not as severe. All the colors are fine everything works. " I am having that problem with our 5 yr old Philips 50PL9126D. It pulses in the white/light areas after the set has been running for about an hour. I tried the link you posted but it appeared to take me to a site that I had to pay for. Is there a way to get this guide from you?

When you get to that site look at the right side and click the button that reads "I want to wait". A countdown timer will appear and when it reached 0 you can download the file free of charge...

__________________It's always time for pieLive everyday as if it was your last and plan on living forever...

I'd add one part to the guide though. When reinstalling the cleaned Optical Engine assembly into the TV, my "HAL9000" lens got caught in the foam rubber gasket that is supposed to block air flow around the lens. When I turned the TV on, there were large black areas at the top of the picture. Luckily, I remembered that the engine went into its slot with a lot of difficulty and that the foam rubber was hanging down when I first slid it in. I didn't want to unplug and replug all the electrical connections, so I removed the top-rear part of the TV that covers the large trapezoidal mirror. I popped the mirror out, being careful not to put fingerprints on the mirror glass. It just tips out of the TV frame. I took a small piece of wood and pressed the foam rubber gasket back into place, so that it did not block the lens. Popped the mirror back in and put the top-rear cover back on and everything worked fine - no more black areas.

My picture is now a lot brighter than it has been in quite a while (even with a new bulb). I ran the TV all day with no psychedelic colors and flashing. I couldn't be happier!

I think that some folks with a splotchy picture might not have cleaned the color wheel very well. I used a very bright (halogen) bulb and really worked on it with a Q-Tip and then with the cloth that came with my eyeglasses. It was a royal PITA to get all the smudges and dust off the thing, but I ended up with a very clean wheel. I don't see any splotching on my picture.

If you are at all mechanically inclined, I highly recommend this guide for the WD-73727!

I followed the guide, and my tv looks great for 20 minutes but then flickers and shuts off. Is this because I removed the foam part that got in the way of getting the parts back into the tv? I'm an idiot for throwing it away.

Hello Bishop 8000. I've been having one bad day after another with my Mitsubishi Wd 73727 color blotting and mild distortions and it started getting worst over a 3 month period. The color hasn't been good for actually over one year.
Picture wasn't sharp, it was blurry and as you get use to more and more poor quality, you begin to think it's normal. Well for all this week, it really took a turn for the worst. By Christmas day, we had enough and searched the internet for a cure.
We came upon your cure and were very impressed with the quality and exact procedure that seemed to match our problem. Your pictures are dynamite.
My son and I decided to attempt a repair using your exact step by step process using your instructions. The results turned my 73 " Mitsubishi into a brand new picture. It looks the same as the day the store delivered and set it up. It is beautiful. I have never attempted to open a TV ever in my life. I have no electronic skills and I assure you it looks brand new.
It's a real pleasure to see someone provide such a cost saving service as you have. I really appreciate your integrity and willingness to share your knowledge. Thank you very, very much. "Merry Christmas." Bob Lewis, Ventura, CA.

The reason im asking is because after i did the cleaning of the light engine it worked fine for a little over a year.
And now it's real bad.
Starts out with skin tones that are red/blue showing like a watermark...blotchy
backgrounds are rainbowed.
the the color goes almost black and white but most things will be purple
then it starts skipping.

So i did the clean up again and even left off the entire back cover and its still the same.

So i know liberator21 was talking about changing the photo inerrrupter to solve some problems, don't know if my new problems might be fixed by replacing it or do i need a new color wheel?